By its Instruction issued on the 23rd of February, 1967, this Sacred
Congregation, with the approval of the Supreme Pontiff, asked the Episcopal
Conferences or Groups to set up a Doctrinal Committee (Commission) which would
exercise vigilante over published writings, promote religious learning, and
render assistance to the bishops in passing judgements on books.

Certainly no one can fail to see how important it is, especially in our times,
that the bishops, whether individually or in concert, assiduously exercise their
office of teaching and of proclaiming the truth. On the other hand, in the
discharge of this office, Doctrinal Committees, can be of assistance to the
Bishops of the respective territories in various ways. Consequently, by way of
further development of the aforesaid Instruction, this Sacred
Congregation thinks it timely to make some suggestions, at least, for bettering
the serviceability of Doctrinal Committees.

1. In the first place, to be sure, there seems to be need that the Doctrinal
Committee act in a positive manner and exercise influence in the exposition and
proposition of correct doctrine.

In order to achieve this goal, periodical publications (dailies, weeklies, and
other of this kind) can be of very much service, and also various writing of a
divulgating nature destined for the people in general, or for young persons in
studies, or, finally, for persons of higher learning.

But it is especially helpful, indeed, altogether necessary that scientific
theological work as such be expended on proclaiming, elucidating, in-depth
understanding, and, finally, safeguarding revealed truth. To be sure, these
activities will attain the desired effect if both the individual bishops and the
Doctrinal Committee cultivate mutual relations in a spirit of collaboration with
theologians, professors of universities and seminaries, and other learned
persons by coming together in timely meetings.

2. Part of the assignment of the Doctrinal Committee is also to assist the
Bishops in the task of vigilance lest harm be done to correct doctrine in
writing, whether theological, or published,
or edited for the people at large.

The Committee can render special assistance to the individual Ordinaries by
setting up prior censorship, as prescribed by canon law, in a case where
otherwise the Ordinary would not be able to have experts qualified for that
work.

3. The Bishops can use the work of the Doctrinal Committee in questions which
affect the territory of the Episcopal Conference or Group. However, in order to
determine which business is to be sent to this sacred congregation, to be kept
in mind is the «principle of subsidiarity» according to the intent of the
Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council in such wise, of course, that, as a rule, the
Conferences or Groups themselves expedite matters which do not go beyond their
territorial limits and which do not, for some other reason, appear to require
the special intervention of the Holy See.

4. In order that the benefits of the experience and the studies of each
individual Doctrinal Committee may turn out to be more helpful to the Holy See,
that is, and to the other Bishops, their Presidents are asked to send to this
Sacred Congregation, at least once a year, an annual report of the activity of
the committee and of the doctrinal tendencies and to suggest the steps which
they think should be taken in due time by the Holy See itself. It need be, this
Sacred Congregation will communicate all these matters to other Episcopal Units.

5. It seems very useful that the Doctrinal Committee prepare for the Bishops
reserved notes on issues of greater importance and on current opinions.

The Episcopal Conference or Group has the right to entrust also to the Doctrinal
Committee other tasks as occasion demands, e.g., the examination of some
manuscript on the appellate level when the «imprimatur» has been denied.

Finally, at the same time that I express the ardent desire of the Holy See that
what has been se forth here regarding the Doctrinal Committee may happily be
converted into action under your prudent and earnest leadership, and that the
names of the Chairperson and Members of the Doctrinal Committee be communicated
to this Sacred Congregation, if these names have not already been sent, I
express my heartiest sentiments to You and remain devotedly Yours in the Lord.